Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

Books of Reference concerning the Congo State.

1. OFFICIAL.

Annales du Musée du Congo (Fauna, Flora, Ethnography, Anthropology).

1898. &c.
Bulletin officiel de l'Etat Indépendant du Congo.

Bruxelles,

Convention between Her Majesty and the King of the Belgians in the name of the International Association of the Congo. London, 1885.

Correspondence with Her Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin respecting West African Conference. London, 1885.

Protocols and General Act of the West African Conference. London, 1885.
L'Etat Indépendant du Congo. Documents sur le Pays et scs Habitants.

Six illustrated books have already been published.

Brussels.

Despatch to certain of His Majesty's representatives abroad in regard to alleged cases of ill-treatment of natives, and to the existence of trade monopolies in the Independent State of the Congo. London, 1903.

Correspondence, and Report from His Majesty's Consul at Boma, respecting the administration of the Independent State of the Congo. London, 1904.-Further Correspondence. London, 1905.

2. UNOFFICIAL.

Bailey (H.), Travel and Adventure in the Congo Free State. London, 1894.

Bentley (Rev. W. H.), Life on the Congo. London, 1887.-Pioneering on the Congo. 2 vols. London, 1900.

Blanchard (G.), Formation et Constitution Politique de l'Etat Independant du Congo. Paris, 1899.

Boulger (D. C.), The Congo State. London, 1898.

Bourne (H. R. F.), Civilization in Congoland. London, 1903.

Bula N'Zau.-Travel and Adventures in the Congo Free State. 8. London, 1894.
Buls (C.), Croquis Congolais. Bruxelles, 1899.

Burdo (A.), Les Belges dans l'Afrique centrale. 6 vols. 4. Brussels, 1891.

Burrows (G.), The Land of the Pigmies. London, 1899.

London, 1903.

Burrows (G.) and Canisius (E.), The Curse of Central Africa.
Cattier (M.), Droit et Administration de l'Etat Indépendant du Congo. Bruxelles, 1898.
Chapaux (A.), Le Congo historique, diplomatique et colonial.
Coquilhat (C.), Sur le Haut-Congo. Paris, 1888.

Deken (C. de), Deux Ans au Congo. Bruxelles, 1901.

Bruxelles, 1894.

Descamps (Baron E.), L'Afrique Nouvelle. Bruxelles, 1903. Also English Translation. London, 1903.

Donny (Général), Manuel du Voyageur et du Résident au Congo. 3 vols. and supplement. Brussels, 1900-01.

Dupont (E.), Le Congo. Brussels, 1889.

Glave (E. G.), Six Years of Adventure in Congoland. 8. London, 1893.

Godelieve (Marie), Six ans au Congo. Bruxelles, 1898.

Hinde (S. L.), The Fall of the Congo Arabs. London, 1897.

Jeannest, Quatre années au Congo. Brussels, 1889.

The Colonisation of Africa. Cambridge, 1899.

Johnston (Sir H. H.), The River Congo. London, 1895.

Keltie (J. Scott), The Partition of Africa. 2nd Edition. London, 1895.

La Belgique Coloniale. Brussels, weekly.

La Tribune Congolaise. Antwerp, weekly.

La Vérité sur le Congo. Periodical. Brussels, weekly.

Le Congo. Brussels, weekly.

Le Congo Illustré. Bruxelles, 1892-95.

Le maire (C. F. A.), Congo et Belgique. 4. Bruxelles, 1894. Au Congo, comment les noirs travaillent. Bruxelles, 1895.

Le Mouvement Géographique. Brussels, weekly.

Lloyd (A. B.), In Dwarf and Cannibal Country. London, 1899.

Lycops (A.), Codes Congolais et Lois usuels en vigueur au Congo. Bruxelles, 1900. Mahieu, Le Telegraphe et le Telephone au Congo, 1901.

Mandat-Grancey (Baron E. de), Au Congo, 1898. Paris, 1900.

Mille (P.), Au Congo Belge. Paris, 1899.

Morel (E. D.), Affairs of West Africa. London, 1902.-King Leopold's Rule in Africa. London, 1904.

Ortroy (F. Van), Conventions Internationales concernant l'Afrique. Brussels, 1898. Pechuel-Loesche (Dr.), Kongoland. Jena, 1887.

Picard (E.), En Congolie. Bruxelles, 1897.

Pierantoni (R.), Le Congres de Berlin et l' Etat Independant du Congo. Bruxelles, 1901.
Poskin (A.), Bilans Congolais. Bruxelles, 1900.

Reclus (E.), Nouvelle géographie universelle. Vol. XIII. Paris, 1888.
Stanley (H. M.), The Congo and the Founding of its Free State.

2 vols. London, 1885.

Stanley (H. M.), Through the Dark Continent. 2 vols. London, 1878.

The Truth about the Civilisation in Congoland. By A Belgian. London, 1903.
Trouet (L.), Le Chemin de Fer du Congo. Brussels, 1898.

Van Mocsel, Etude sur la législature de l'Etat Indépendant du Congo.

Ward (H.), Five Years with the Congo Cannibals. London, 1890.

Wauters (A. J.), L Etat Independant du Congo. Brussels, 1899. -Bibliographie du

Congo (1880-95). Brussels, 1896.-De Bruxelles à Karema. Bruxelles, 1901.

White (A. Silva), The Development of Africa. London, 1890.

Wildeman (E. de), Les Plantes Tropicales de Grande Culture. Bruxelles, 1902.

Wildeman (É. de), et Gentil (L.), Lianes caoutchoutifères de l'Etat Indépendant du

Congo. Brussels, 1903.

Wissmann (H.), Im Innern Afrikas. Berlin, 1888.

COSTA RICA.

(REPÚBLICA DE COSTA RICA.)

Constitution and Government.

THE Republic of Costa Rica, an independent State since the year 1821, and forming part from 1824 to 1829 of the Confederation of Central America, is governed under a Constitution promulgated in 1870, and modified very frequently since that date. Practically there was no constitution, but only dictatorships, between 1870 and 1882. The legislative power is vested in a Chamber of Representatives-one representative to every 8,000 inhabitants -chosen in electoral assemblies, the members of which are returned by the suffrage of all who are able to support themselves. There were 32 deputies in 1902 The members of the Chamber are elected for the term of four years, one-half retiring every two years. The executive authority is in the hands of a president, elected, in the same manner as the Congress, for the term of four years.

President of the Republic.-Ascension Esquivel, elected May 8, 1902.

Vice-Presidents.—Ricardo Jimenez, Cleto Gonzáles Viquez, and Juan Bautista Quiros.

The administration normally is carried on, under the President, by four ministers-viz. of the Interior, Police, and Public Works; of Foreign Affairs, Education, Justice, Public Instruction, and Worship; of Finance and Commerce; and of War and Marine.

Area and Population.

The area of the Republic is estimated at 18,400 English square miles divided into five provinces, San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, and Guanacaste; and two comarcas, Puntarenas, part of the Pacific coast-line, and Limon, the whole of the Caribbean coast. The boundary disputes with Colombia and Nicaragua have been settled. According to the census of February 18, 1892, the population was 243,205 (122,480 males and 120,725 females), besides 19,456 (estimated) unenumerated, and about 3,500 aborigines. There were 6,289 foreigners, of whom 831 were from Spain; 622 from Italy; 342 from Germany; 246 from England; 204 from the United States; and 634 were British subjects from the West Indies. In 1902 the population was put at 316,738, and in December 31, 1903, at 322,618. The official returns of births and deaths showed :

[blocks in formation]

The net immigration in 1903 amounted to 1,558. The population of European descent, many of them pure Spanish blood, dwell mostly around the capital, the city of San José (23,903), and in the towns of Alajuela (4,860), Cartago (4,536), Heredia (7,151), Liberia (2,831), Puntarenas (3,569),

and Limon (3,171). The government encourages immigration by the sale of land on easy terms.

For the purpose of public health the country has been divided into 26 districts, superintended by medical men paid by the national Treasury.

Religion and Instruction.

The Roman Catholic is the religion of the State, but there is entire religious liberty under the Constitution. In 1901 there were in the Republic 3,021 Protestants, 43 Jews, and 230 Buddhists, &c. Education is compulsory and free. In 1902 there were 306 primary schools, with 686 teachers and 17,716 pupils in attendance, besides six establishments for higher education. In 1902 a normal school was founded. In 1902-03, 609,552 colones were devoted to education. Public instruction in all its branches is rigidly en forced.

Justice.

Justice is administered by the Supreme Court of Justice, two Appeal Courts, and the Court of Cassation. There are also subordinate courts in the separate provinces, and local justices throughout the Republic. Capital punishment cannot be inflicted.

Finance.

The revenue and expenditure for five years have been for 1899-1900 in paper pesos of variable value; for 1900-01 to 1903-04 (estimates), in gold colones, worth about 1s. 10d.) :—

1899-1900

1900-01

1901-02

1902-03

1903-04

Revenue

Pesos Colones Colones Colones Colones 8,228,292 8,700,833 5,646,896 5,522,894 | 6,408,175 Expenditure 7,448,120 9,319,192 5,865,522 5,500,000 6,408,175

The revenue is chiefly derived from customs, 3,492,613 colones, and excise, 1,084,408 colones; while the expenditure is chiefly for finance, 1,085,553 colones; instruction, 835,281; interior, 586,578; police, 422,584.

The foreign debt of the Republic outstanding in 1887 was 2,691,3007., and the arrears of interest amounted to 2,119,5127. In 1888 an arrangement was made with the creditors, but in 1895 the Government again went into default, and in March, 1897 a new arrangement was agreed to. The interest on 525,000l. of the capital is reduced to 3 per cent., and that on 1,475,000l. to 24 per cent. Amortization at the rate of 10,000l. annually will begin in 1917. The unpaid interest coupons, January, 1895, to April, 1897, will be cancelled on the payment by Costa Rica at once of 31,5621., and of 100, 0007, by annual instalments of 5,000l. The total foreign debt (including 500,0007. arrears of interest) in 1904 stood at 2,500,000%. The internal debt on March 31, 1903, amounted to 5,213,861 colones currency, and 1,546,536 colones gold (or 3,321,702 colones currency); total, 8,535,564 colones currency.

Defence.

Costa Rica has an army of the maximum number of 1,000 men, infantry and artillery, and 5,000 militia, but on a war footing can command 150,000 militia, as every male between 18 and 50 may be required The Republic has also one torpedo boat, and a gunboat.

to serve.

Industry and Commerce..

Almost anything can be grown in Costa Rica, but the principal agricultural products are coffee and bananas; in 1903, 17,332,613 kilos. of coffee, and 5,139,063 bunches of bananas were exported. Other exports of produce were (1903) cocoa, 80,532 kilos. ; cedar, 255,132 c. ft.; mahogany, 3,896 c. ft.; fustic and other dye-woods, 8,786 kilos. ; rubber, 55,276 kilos. ; tortoise-shell, 1,746 kilos.; mother-of-pearl, 632,494 kilos.; hides and skins, 316,658 kilos. Maize, rice, and potatoes are commonly cultivated. In 1892 the live stock consisted of 345,665 cattle, 77,043 horses, and 2,765 sheep, valued at, in all, 5,827,606 pesos. Several districts are auriferous, and mining is carried on, but the machinery and plant are of small capacity except in three mines worked with American capital. The bullion exports in 1903 amounted to 228,237 Am. dollars.

The official statistics of commerce do not admit of a comparative statement for a series of years. For 1903 the value of the foreign trade is given as follows, in U.S. gold dollars :

:

[blocks in formation]

The chief imports were food-stuffs, dry goods, and hardware. The coffee exports are to Great Britain (72 per cent.), the United States (16 per cent.), and Germany (7 per cent.).

According to the Board of Trade Returns, the trade of the United Kingdom with Costa Rica has been :

[blocks in formation]

The chief article imported from Costa Rica in 1903 was coffee, value 263,150. The chief domestic exports to Costa Rica in 1903 were cottons, value 61,4277. ; iron-work and machinery, 19,4047.

According to United States statistics the imports into, and exports from, the United States from and to Costa Rica were valued (in U.S. dollars) in four years (ending June 30) as follows:

:

« ForrigeFortsæt »